Being a book blogger with “reading restrictions”
Have you ever wondered if some book bloggers have certain types of books they just can’t read, no matter how much they want to ?
Because i’m one of those who has! and frankly, I sure hope i’m not the only one on that.. When you start blogging, it seems that you get under the impression that everyone else just know what they’re doing; and especially when it comes to new releases and arcs.. so the thought of it seems just so surreal you know?
If you’ve been here for a while, chances are you know this already — But back when I started blogging a year ago, I was scared of reading in english (because of the mandatory reads in school, mostly). That restricted me quite alot, as of course a LOT of books that’s popular on the blogosphere aren’t translated ..
I actually decided to try to read some earlier this year and saw that it was so different now. In school, the mandatory english reads made me sleepy.. so I could never finish them. Now that the books were actually interesting me, turns out I can read and finish them just fine — although I still have a limit. After reading so many english books in a row, I find that I need to read a book or two in french to “cleanse my palate”, as my brain decide to just.. not cooperate with me anymore 😂 It’s not a quite a slump per say… but more books in english that I read in a row, the more confused that I am and the longer that it takes me to understand/get into the story; which of course becomes a problem.
I also have a second limit when we talk about genres, which of course is always the ones being hyped up; Fantasy, and any other very descriptive genres. This one isn’t really on the genre specifically — but rather on the need for the reader to take in LOT of information and create the world out of scratch with what the novel gives you.
I’m always wary of any books that I find that appear to be like that. Back when I reached my lowest point in my depression and anxiety, my concentration and reading ability took a bit hit. What happened was that it took WAY more out of me to picture the words in my head; so I was just conciously reading words on pages, with no images nor anything happening in my head — it wasn’t fun for me anymore. A big reason why I read at night time rather than in plain day, is also that my concentration and “daydreaming” while reading can easily snap with any outside noise.
It did finally became better! But books that have more lenghty descriptions to create their own worlds, or more intermediaire english dialect, make it so much harder for me.
I hope that maybe someday both of thoses problems will become even better, but as a book blogger, it makes me feel kind of “cheap” sometimes that I see really hyped books and popular ones that I know I can’t attempt right now 😅 While I do know my worth as a blogger has nothing to do with what I can or can’t read, but it’s still an insecurity for me..
Do you have any reading restriction aswell? What are they?
10 thoughts on “Being a book blogger with “reading restrictions””
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How interesting that you’ve found a balance between reading books in English and French that seems to work for you. I would imagine that branching out into English helps you find a lot of new books! I understand not being able to read certain genres—you always want to try to give new things a chance, but sometimes you realize certain genres just aren’t for you.
Oh it did! Eliza and her monsters never got translated, per exemple, so I never would’ve discovered one of my favorite!
It’s not even the genre itself though.. which is kind of what upsets me. It’s just anything that requires a lot of « brain capacity », as of which I lost a lot of that :/ I’m glad that i’m now able to daydream while reading again! But it’s a bummer to not being able to discover what the big fuss is about 😂
Ah I’m glad you’ve found a balance for reading and enjoying books in English love. Honestly, I sometimes feel guilty for not reading a lot of the new/newer releases as I’m usually lost to the backlist books but I just, don’t always like reading a book because of the hype. It puts more pressure on the book to be amazing and you as the reader to love the book, at least that’s how I feel. I have been slowly reading more newer releases though and there are several book bloggers who’s readings tastes are similar to mine, so that’s always helpful if I’m struggling at which new release to pick up.
I think one of my restrictions I’ve noticed is I can’t read fantasy (like high fantasy where the whole word has been created) back to back anymore, I used to be able to read different fantasy books one after another but now I just can’t, I need a break. I can read Urban Fantasy one after another though, I’ll never tire of that hehe.
yep, I’m like too! not only with books though, even TV shows or movies or whatever.. If there’s too much hype, chances are I won’t wanna consume it until it had died down. The deception is so much greater when you don’t like a hyped book.. or not liked as much as you wanted to.
I see- it makes sense! it do take a lot of brain power. Imagining a WHOLE new world is tiring xD
I hope image conjuring becomes easier again for you! I have times when my ability to process nonfiction stuff becomes difficult. The CFFM (CFSME) causes cognitive issues. Surprisingly, it doesn’t interfere with my image conjuring. I’m thankful for that.
I recently read Chestnut Man, and really want to read more by the author. They are only available in Danish or Icelandic -_-. I want to learn Danish now! I fallen in love with a lot of Nordic writers’ works and there are only 1 or 2 in English. I’d like to learn Dutch too…
Thank you! You’re lucky it didn’t affect yours, it is really a pain 😪
Ahh damn that sucks :/ I didn’t had an instance like that- meaning that for me everything was in english rather than my mother tongue. While I do understand the reason why they didn’t got translated and such.. it’s still a pain when you want to read them and can’t!
Kristina, I am so proud of you!! Knowing your limits and having plans in place to stop them from hurting you takes strength and courage!! You should never feel cheap for doing that, and making sure that you look after yourself!! One day you will be able to push past that, but if you don’t, then that’s ok too.
Fantasy is hard!! Sometimes there are more made up words than there are real ones, and it can be difficult trying to find a translation for a word that doesn’t really exist. That will absolutely take you out of your reading experience. And sometimes that’s not worth it for the experience of reading something you might love if you read it in your native language.
Also, lots of us have reading restrictions. Sometimes I have had a really hard time reading books where the parents die because I’m still mourning my dad’s passing.
I’m sending so many hugs your way!!
Aww thank you meeghan! ❤️❤️ it means alot.
Ah that’s right- I haven’t thought of made up words xD I read one that had a glossary, so that was nice! Otherwise it’s pretty much « guess and go ».. hah!
That’s nice to know, like anything you tend to think you’re alone on that. Aww- that’s absolutely understandable, many hugs your way too ❤️❤️
I am someone who reads a lot of genres, so I have always had very few restrictions. Namely, I used to not read middle grade, but I have recently started to and loved it! But my problem with having no restrictions is that I feel like my book blog has no niche. I know to go to certain blogs for certain genres…. but mine doesn’t have that! I don’t know how I feel about it, but I guess I just roll with it.
Ah, I see — well, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be multi genres! There’s something for everyone, and surely more readers shall be like you!
I don’t read middle grade either yet! I really should.